Gaming machine with two-stage feature determination

ABSTRACT

A gaming machine offering a game where an outcome of the game is a set of symbols chosen from a plurality of symbols. The plurality of symbols includes trigger symbols that each has a first and a second identifying characteristic. A bonus is awarded when the outcome includes two or more trigger symbols that have a common first identifying characteristic, wherein at least an aspect of the bonus varies according to the combination of the second identifying characteristics often trigger symbols in the outcome.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims the benefit of priority to Australian Provisional Patent Serial No. 2007904137, entitled “Gaming Machine With Two-Stage Feature Determination”, filed on Aug. 1, 2007, the content of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to gaming machines and methods of gaming. A particular embodiment of the present invention relates to gaming machines that provide a game having a base game component and a feature game component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the increase of gambling at gaming venues has come increased competition between gaming venues to obtain a larger share of the total gambling spend. Gaming venue operators have therefore continuously looked for new variations and types of games in order to attract both new and return customers to their venues.

In response to this need, suppliers of gaming devices and systems have attempted to provide the sought after variety, while still developing games that comply with the relevant regulations in the jurisdiction of the gaming venue operator. Suppliers of gaming devices therefore are faced with restrictions on the types of games and gaming machines that are allowable, both in terms of the prevailing regulations and in terms of providing a return on investment to the gaming venue operators.

One type of gaming machine that has experienced some success in the past is a gaming machine that implements a game having a base game component and a feature game component. The feature game component may be triggered during play of the base game component, for example on the occurrence of a particular combination of symbols in the base game. The feature game component may be a bonus game in the form of series of games with enhanced pay characteristics in comparison to the base game component.

Feature game components may be triggered based on other aspects of operation of the gaming machine. For example, a mystery jackpot feature may be triggered when an accumulated total of a percentage of the turnover on the gaming machine or a group of linked gaming machines reaches a certain value that has been randomly selected from a pre-set range.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, certain embodiments of the invention broadly reside in a method for use with a gaming machine, the method including:

receiving a wager staked on the outcome of a game provided by the gaming machine;

maintaining in memory of the gaming machine a definition of a plurality of possible outcomes of the game, each outcome associated with a plurality of symbols, with different outcomes associated with different sets of symbols, wherein the symbols include at least two trigger symbols that each have a first identifying characteristic in common and a second identifying characteristic that is different, and wherein at least two outcomes that are associated with at least one of the trigger symbols are also associated with a bonus;

in a random process, determining the outcome of the game and displaying on the display the set of symbols associated with that outcome;

if the determined outcome is one of the outcomes associated with the bonus, awarding the bonus associated with that outcome.

In one embodiment, the bonus includes a series of bonus game events, wherein the number of bonus game events awarded depending on the second identifying characteristic of the at least one trigger symbol, or on the combination of the second identifying characteristics of the trigger symbols, associated with the outcome.

In one embodiment, the method includes awarding the bonus with a first number of bonus game events when the at least one trigger symbol associated with the determined outcome exhibits a particular second identifying characteristic or a particular combination of second identifying characteristics, and awarding the bonus with a second number of bonus game events, different from the first number of bonus game events, when the trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome exhibit another second identifying characteristic or another particular combination of second identifying characteristics. In this embodiment, the first identifying characteristic may be indicia of the symbol and the second identifying characteristic may be the colour of the indicia.

In one embodiment, the outcomes that are associated with the bonus are each associated with a plurality of trigger symbols and the method includes awarding the bonus with a first number of game events when there are at least a certain number of trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome that exhibit the same second identifying characteristic and awarding the bonus with a second number of games events when there are less than the certain number of trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome that exhibit the same second identifying characteristic.

In one embodiment, the method includes awarding the bonus with a first multiplier applied to prizes won from the bonus when the at least one trigger symbol associated with the determined outcome exhibits a particular second identifying characteristic or a particular combination of second identifying characteristics, and awarding the bonus with a second multiplier applied to prizes won from the bonus, different from the first multiplier, when the trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome exhibit another second identifying characteristic or another particular combination of second identifying characteristics. In this embodiment, the first identifying characteristic may be indicia of the symbol and the second identifying characteristic may be the colour of the indicia.

In one embodiment, the outcomes that are associated with bonus events are each associated with a plurality of trigger symbols and the method includes awarding the bonus with a first multiplier when there are at least a certain number of trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome that exhibit the same second identifying characteristic and awarding the bonus event with a second multiplier when there are less than the certain number of trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome that exhibit the same second identifying characteristic.

In one embodiment, for an outcome that is associated with a bonus event the process of displaying on the display the set of symbols associated with that outcome includes a first stage of displaying a set of symbols that includes the at least one trigger symbol with the first identifying characteristic and with an undetermined second identifying characteristic, then in a second stage displaying the second identifying characteristic. In this embodiment, the trigger symbols may be displayed to appear to have a three-dimensional properties and displaying the second identifying characteristic may involve displaying the trigger symbols as animating and then revealing their respective second identifying characteristics. In this embodiment, the display of the second identifying characteristic may be dependent on a random selection process that is separate from the random process that determined the game outcome. Alternatively, the display of the second identifying characteristic may be predetermined in that it is solely dependent on a single random process, namely the random process that determined the game outcome.

When the trigger symbols are displayed to animate, the gaming machine may display the trigger symbols as ceasing to animate so as to reveal their second identifying characteristic upon receipt of a player input. The player input may be touching of a touch screen by the player in the location of the trigger symbol.

In one embodiment, one outcome of a said bonus game event is an outcome that results in the award of additional bonus game events. In this embodiment, the outcome may be associated with representative symbols that includes a trigger symbol or a combination of trigger symbols.

In one embodiment, the method includes implementing a plurality of said games across a plurality of said gaming machines, wherein one possible outcome of the bonus is the winning of a common prize winnable from each of the gaming machines. In this embodiment, the common prize may be a progressive prize. Also in this embodiment, there may be a plurality of common prizes, wherein the prize that a player is eligible to win in the bonus events is dependent on the second characteristic(s) of the trigger symbol(s).

In one embodiment, the method includes awarding a special prize on the occurrence of a trigger event during the bonus. The trigger event may be the occurrence of a particular special symbol or combination of special symbols, which may be the same as, or different to, the trigger symbols. In one version, the trigger event is the accumulation of a certain number of special symbols during the series of bonus game events. Two different special prizes may be awardable, and which special prize that is awarded is dependent on the number of special symbols that occur in the bonus. Also or alternatively, two different special prizes may be awardable, and which special prize that is awarded is dependent on the number of special symbols that are accumulated in the series of bonus game events. The special prizes may be a large fixed cash or non-cash prize, or a progressive prize.

According to a second aspect, certain embodiments of the invention broadly reside in a gaming machine including:

a game controller including a random number generator and a credit meter;

a user interface in communication with the game controller, the user interface including a game play activator and a display;

a memory in communication with or forming a part of the game controller, the memory storing a game image that includes a definition of a plurality of possible outcomes of the game, each outcome associated with a plurality of symbols, with different outcomes associated with different sets of symbols, wherein the symbols include at least two trigger symbols that each have a first identifying characteristic in common and a second identifying characteristic that is different, and wherein at least two outcomes that are associated with at least one of the trigger symbols are also associated with a bonus that includes a series of bonus game events, wherein the bonus includes at least one aspect that varies for different instances or combinations of the second identifying characteristic of the trigger symbols for that outcome;

wherein the game controller determines the outcome of the game dependent on an output from the random number generator, controls the display to display the set of symbols associated with that outcome, and provides the bonus if the determined outcome of the game is one of the outcomes associated with a bonus.

In one embodiment, the bonus at least initially consists of a first number of bonus game events when the at least one trigger symbol associated with the determined outcome exhibits a particular second identifying characteristic or a particular combination of second identifying characteristics, and at least initially consists of a second number of bonus game events, different from the first number of bonus game events, when the trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome exhibit another second identifying characteristic or another particular combination of second identifying characteristics. In this embodiment, the first identifying characteristic may be indicia of the symbol and the second identifying characteristic may be the colour of the indicia.

In one embodiment, the outcomes that are associated with the bonus are each associated with a plurality of trigger symbols and the bonus at least initially consists of a first number of bonus game events when there are at least a certain number of trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome that exhibit the same second identifying characteristic and the bonus at least initially consists of a second number of bonus games events when there are less than the certain number of trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome that exhibit the same second identifying characteristic.

In one embodiment, the bonus includes a first multiplier that is applied to prizes won from the bonus when the at least one trigger symbol associated with the determined outcome exhibits a particular second identifying characteristic or a particular combination of second identifying characteristics, and the bonus includes a second multiplier that is applied to prizes won from the bonus, different from the first multiplier, when the trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome exhibit another second identifying characteristic or another particular combination of second identifying characteristics. In this embodiment, the first identifying characteristic may be indicia of the symbol and the second identifying characteristic may be the colour of the indicia.

In one embodiment, the outcomes that are associated with the bonus are each associated with a plurality of trigger symbols and the bonus at least initially consists of a first multiplier when there are at least a certain number of trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome that exhibit the same second identifying characteristic and the bonus at least initially consists of a second multiplier when there are less than the certain number of trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome that exhibit the same second identifying characteristic.

In one embodiment, for an outcome that is associated with a bonus the process of displaying on the display the set of symbols associated with that outcome includes a first stage of displaying a set of symbols that includes the at least one trigger symbol with the first identifying characteristic and with an underdetermined second identifying characteristic, then in a second stage displaying the second identifying characteristic. In this embodiment, the trigger symbols may be displayed to appear to have a three-dimensional properties and displaying the second identifying characteristic may involve displaying the trigger symbols as rotating and then stopping to reveal their respective second identifying characteristics. In this embodiment, the display of the second identifying characteristic may be dependent on a random selection process that is separate from the random process that determined the game outcome. Alternatively, the display of the second identifying characteristic may be predetermined in that it is solely dependent on a single random process, namely the random process that determined the game outcome.

When the trigger symbols are displayed to rotate, the gaming machine may display the trigger symbols as ceasing to rotate so as to reveal their second identifying characteristic upon receipt of a player input. The player input may be touching of a touch screen by the player in the location of the trigger symbol.

In one embodiment, one outcome of a said bonus game event is an outcome that results in the award of additional bonus game events. In the embodiment, the outcome may be associated with representative symbols that includes a trigger symbol or a combination of trigger symbols.

In one embodiment, the gaming machine is one of a plurality of linked gaming machines and one possible outcome of the bonus is the winning of a common prize winnable from each of the linked gaming machines. In this embodiment, the common prize may be a progressive prize. Also in this embodiment, there may be a plurality of common prizes, wherein the prize that a player is eligible to win in the bonus is dependent on the second characteristic(s) of the trigger symbol(s).

In one embodiment, the gaming machine awards a special prize on the occurrence of a trigger event during the series of bonus games. The trigger event may be the occurrence of a particular special symbol or combination of special symbols, which may be the same or different to the trigger symbols. In one version, the trigger event is the accumulation of a certain number of special symbols during the bonus. Two different special prizes may be awardable, and which special prize that is awarded is dependent on the number of special symbols that occur in a bonus game event. Also or alternatively, two different special prizes may be awardable, and which special prize that is awarded is dependent on the number of special symbols that are accumulated in the series of bonus game events. The special prizes may be a large fixed cash or non-cash prize, or a progressive prize.

According to a third aspect, certain embodiments of the invention broadly reside in a gaming machine including:

a game controller including a random number generator and a credit meter;

a user interface in communication with the game controller, the user interface including a game play activator and a display;

a memory in communication with or forming a part of the game controller, the memory storing a game image that includes a definition of a plurality of possible outcomes of the game, each outcome associated with a plurality of symbols, wherein different outcomes are associated with different sets of symbols, the symbols include at least two trigger symbols that each have a first identifying characteristic in common and a second identifying characteristic that is different, and at least two outcomes that are associated with different instances or combinations of trigger symbols are associated with different special prizes;

wherein the game controller determines the outcome of the game dependent on an output from the random number generator, controls the display to display the set of symbols associated with that outcome, and provides a said special prize if the determined outcome of the game is one of the outcomes associated with a special prize.

A fourth aspect includes a gaming system including a plurality of gaming machines as described in the preceding paragraphs for the second or third aspects. In this aspect, if a special prize is provided, then the same special prize may be winnable from any one of the plurality of gaming machines.

According to a fifth aspect, certain embodiments of the invention broadly reside in a method for use with a gaming machine, the method including:

receiving a wager staked on the outcome of a game provided by the gaming machine;

maintaining in memory of the gaming machine a definition of a plurality of possible outcomes of the game, each outcome associated with a plurality of symbols, wherein different outcomes are associated with different sets of symbols, the symbols include at least two trigger symbols that each have a first identifying characteristic in common and a second identifying characteristic that is different, at least two outcomes that are associated with at least one trigger symbol are also associated with special prizes, and wherein different special prizes are associated with different instances or combinations of the second identifying characteristic of the trigger symbols;

in a random process, determining the outcome of the game and displaying on the display the set of symbols associated with that outcome;

if the determined outcome is one of the outcomes associated with a special prize, awarding the special prize associated with the outcome.

In one embodiment of either the third and fifth aspects, at least one of the special prizes are progressive prizes. In this embodiment the average value of the progressive prizes may be different. The progressive prizes may optionally have different seed values and/or increment rates.

According to a sixth aspect, certain embodiments of the invention broadly reside in a method of providing a game on a gaming machine arranged to select outcomes of the game, award an award if a winning outcome results, and display representations of the game on a display, including displaying combinations of types of symbols to represent winning and losing outcomes, wherein at least symbol type that is displayed to represent a winning combination of symbols is displayed as having one of two or more different visual attributes, and wherein the award that is awarded differs depending on the visual attributes of the displayed symbol.

In one embodiment, the award that is awarded for the winning combination is a series of bonus games and wherein the number of bonus games awarded differs for different attributes of the symbol.

In one embodiment, the two or more different visual attributes include different colours.

In one embodiment, a winning combination is represented as a combination of two or more symbols, each of which may have any one a plurality of visual attributes, wherein the award that is awarded is dependent on the combination of visual attributes that is displayed.

According to a seventh aspect, certain embodiments of the invention broadly reside in a gaming machine including a display and a game controller in communication with the display, the game controller selecting outcomes of the game, causing the award of an award if a winning outcome results, and controls the display to display representations of the game, wherein the representations include the display of combinations of types of symbols to represent winning and losing outcomes, wherein at least symbol type that is displayed to represent a winning combination of symbols is displayed as having one of two or more different visual attributes, and wherein the award that the game controller causes to be awarded differs depending on the visual attributes of the displayed symbol.

In one embodiment, the award that is awarded for the winning combination is a series of bonus games and wherein the number of bonus games awarded differs for different attributes of the symbol. In one embodiment, the two or more different visual attributes include different colours.

In one embodiment, a winning combination is represented as a combination of two or more symbols, each of which may have any one a plurality of visual attributes, wherein the award that is awarded is dependent on the combination of visual attributes that is displayed.

According to an eighth aspect, certain embodiments of the invention broadly reside in instructions executable by a game controller to implement any one of the methods as described in the preceding paragraphs and to such instructions when stored in a storage medium readable by the game controller.

Further aspects and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: shows diagrammatically, a view of a gaming console suitable for implementing certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2: shows a block diagram of gaming machine suitable for implementing certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3: shows a block diagram of components of the memory of the gaming machine represented in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4: shows diagrammatically, a network gaming system suitable for implementing certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5: shows a flow diagram of a process performed in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like part throughout the drawings. The embodiments shown in the drawings are presented for purposes of illustration only. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, one example of a gaming console that is suitable to implement certain embodiments of the present invention is generally referenced by arrow 114.

The gaming console 114 includes two displays 106A, 106B on one or both of which is displayed representations of a game that can be played by a player and a bank of buttons 107A and/or a touch screen 107B to enable a player to play the game. The displays 106 may be video display units, such as a cathode ray tube screen device, a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an electromechanical device. The display 106B may display artwork, including for example, pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. In alternative gaming consoles the display 106B may be omitted, optionally replaced by a static display.

A credit input including a coin input 110A and/or bill collector 110B allows a player to provide credit for wagering and a coin output 111 is provided for cash payouts from the gaming console 114. A card and/or ticket reader 108 and a printer 109 may be provided to provide player tracking, cashless game play or other gaming and non-gaming related functions.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a gaming machine, generally referenced by arrow 100, suitable for implementing certain embodiments of the present invention. The gaming machine 100 may include the gaming console 114 shown in FIG. 1 and accordingly like reference numerals have been used to describe like components in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101, which in the illustrated example includes a computational device 102, which may be a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other suitable device. Instructions and data to control operation of the computational device 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with, or forms part of, the computational device 102. Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory 103. The instructions to cause the game controller 101 to implement the present invention will be stored in the memory 103.

The game controller 101 may include hardware credit meters 104 for the purposes of, for example, regulatory compliance and also include an input/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with the peripheral devices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for instructions and data.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral devices that communicate with the controller are the displays 106, bank of buttons/touch screen 107, the card and/or ticket reader 108, the printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input 110 and a coin output 111. Additional devices may be included as part of the gaming machine 100, or devices omitted for the specific implementation.

The bank of buttons 107A and/or touch screen 107B together with one or both of the displays 106 may provide a user interface 115 through which the gaming machine 100 and player communicate. If a card/ticket reader 108 is provided, this may also form part of the user interface 115.

In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. The network card 112, may for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the central controller, server or database. The network card 112 may also enable communication with a central player account, allowing cashless gaming. One or more of the peripheral devices, for example the card/ticket reader 108 may be able to communicate directly with the network card 112. The network card 112 and the I/O interface 105 may be suitably implemented as a single machine communications interface.

The game controller 101 may also include a random number generator 113, which generates a series of random numbers that are used by the computational device 102 to determine the outcomes of games played on the gaming machine 100.

The game controller 101 may have distributed hardware and software components that communicate with each other directly or through a network or other communication channel. The game controller 101 may also be located in part or in its entirety remote from the user interface 115. Also, the computational device 102 may include a plurality of devices, which may be local or remote from each other.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary block diagram of the main components of the memory 103. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds instructions and data related to the execution of game programs and communication functions performed by the computational controller 102. The EPROM 103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain system and game related code. The mass storage device 103C may be used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the computational controller 102 using protected code from the EPROM 103B or elsewhere.

FIG. 4 shows a gaming system 200 in the form of a network of devices. The gaming system 200 includes a network infrastructure 201, which for example may be in the form of an Ethernet network. Alternatively, a wireless network and/or direct communication channels, or a different type of network may be used to link the gaming machines to a server, each other and/or other devices. Gaming consoles 114, shown arranged in three banks 203 of two gaming consoles 114 in FIG. 4, are connected to the network infrastructure 201. The gaming consoles 114 may form part or all of a gaming machine 100. Single gaming consoles 114 and banks 203 containing three or more gaming consoles 114 may also be connected to the network infrastructure 201, which may also include bank controllers, hubs, routers, bridges to other networks and other devices (not shown).

One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. The displays 204 may, for example, be associated with a bank 203 of gaming consoles 114. The displays 204 may be used to display representations associated with game play on the gaming consoles 114, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material.

Servers may also be connected to the network 201. For example, a jackpot server 205 may control one or more jackpots for the gaming system 200. Further servers may be provided to perform various functions, which may be implemented as server processes in the same device as the jackpot server 205 or as separate physical devices.

FIG. 5 shows a process flow diagram of a process performed in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. The process may be performed by a gaming machine 100, or by the gaming system 200, in which the gaming consoles 114 each include game controllers 101 to form gaming machines 100. Those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that the process will also be able to be implemented by other gaming systems.

In step 1, the game controller 101 monitors the bill acceptor and/or coin input 110 and/or information received by the card/ticket reader 108 or network card 112 for a deposit of credit and in response causes the hardware meters 104 to increment according to the denomination of the game. The game controller 101 then monitors the user interface 107 for the input of a wager.

If there are sufficient credits in the meters 104 to support the wager, a game play is provided in step 2 by the game controller 101 determining the game outcome for the game. The game controller 101 receives random numbers from the RNG 113 and associates the generated numbers with the outcomes according to the definition of the game. The game is defined by a game image stored in the memory 103 and includes symbols associated with each game outcome that the game controller 101 causes the display 106 to display.

The symbols include a plurality of trigger symbols. At least two different trigger symbols have a common first identifying characteristic and different second identifying characteristics. For example, the trigger symbols may all be pyramid symbols. The first identifying characteristic is then that the symbol is a pyramid symbol. Different game outcomes may result in different coloured pyramid symbols and the second identifying characteristic may be the colour of the trigger symbol.

The identifying characteristics may be any visibly discernible characteristics of the trigger symbols. However, in the preferred embodiments currently contemplated the first identifying characteristic is what the player would identify as the symbol that is being displayed, for example a ‘pyramid’, an ‘ace’, a ‘ten’ or similar. The second identifying characteristic is then a qualifier or characteristic of the symbol, for example a red pyramid, or an ace of hearts or similar.

A simplified example of a game may have ordinary symbols in the form of ‘10’, ‘J’, ‘Q’ and ‘K’, and have bonus trigger symbols in the form of red and blue ‘A’ symbols. The game may for example include a base game in the form of a spinning reel game in which each reel is populated with ordinary symbols and at least one reel includes at least one red ‘A’ symbol and at least one reel includes at least one blue ‘A’ symbol. In one embodiment, the game outcomes that results in the trigger event may correspond to the display of a single ‘A’ symbol anywhere on the display.

If a red ‘A’ symbol is displayed, then 10 bonus games may be awarded. The bonus games may be a spinning of the reels with an enhanced pay table, so that the probability of winning a prize from a bonus game event is higher than in the base game and/or the value of the prizes able to be won from a bonus game is higher. If a blue ‘A’ symbol is displayed, then 15 bonus games are awarded.

In another embodiment, the trigger may be the occurrence of a combination of trigger symbols. Therefore, using the previous example, a series of bonus games may only be awarded when 3 or more ‘A’ symbols are displayed on the display 106 during play of the base game. This trigger event may be further qualified, for example by specifying that the 3 ‘A’ symbols appear along a payline (or in a hand for a poker style card game, or otherwise for other games) of a game on which the player has staked a wager. However, in alternative embodiments, the trigger event may occur whenever 3 ‘A’ symbols appear anywhere on the display. Symbols that appear to operate in this manner are sometimes referred to as ‘scatter’ symbols.

In this embodiment, at least one characteristic of the bonus games is varied depending on the second characteristic of the ‘A’ symbols that triggered the bonus. In this example the second characteristic is whether the ‘A’ symbols are red or blue. For example, if the trigger symbols include 3 red ‘A’ symbols, then 15 bonus games may be awarded. If the trigger symbols include 3 blue ‘A’ symbols, then 20 bonus games may be awarded. If the trigger symbols do not include 3 red or blue symbols, then 10 bonus games may be awarded.

Further features may be added to the bonus. For example, if it is possible to achieve a trigger event that has four trigger symbols, then a 2× multiplier may be applied if the bonus symbols are a mixture of the red and blue ‘A’ symbols. Increased multipliers may be applied depending on particular characteristics of the trigger symbols, for example a multiplier of 5 may be applied if there are 3 like coloured trigger symbols, and a multiplier of 10 may be applied if all 4 trigger symbols are the same colour. Alternatively, the same multiplier may be used if 3 or 4 trigger symbols occur having the same colour.

In one embodiment, the trigger symbols may first appear on the display with an undetermined second identifying characteristic. Taking again the example of a trigger symbol in the form of an ‘A’ symbol, the symbol may be first displayed on the screen without any colour associated with it. In the case of a video display implementation, the ‘A’ symbol may then be animated, for example to appear to spin about an axis and then stopping with a particular colour revealed. The revealed colour of the trigger symbols is then used to determine the characteristics of the bonus to be awarded. In one version of this embodiment, a trigger symbol may continue spinning until the player touches the touch screen 107B at the location of that trigger symbol, which will cause it to stop spinning. The player may then individually touch each of the trigger symbols to stop them spinning. The game controller 101 may implement a timer so that if the player does not touch the screen within a certain time, for example 15 seconds, then the game controller automatically stops the spinning of the trigger symbols and reveals the colour associated with the trigger symbols.

In the embodiment with animated trigger symbols, the characteristic of the symbol, which in this example is whether the ‘A’ symbol is red or blue, may have been determined in the original game play event and not displayed until after the animation. Therefore, in a spinning reel game, a reel may be populated with both red and blue ‘A’ symbols, which are both initially displayed the same, but then change to reveal their colour.

In another embodiment, there may be two random selection processes, one to determine whether sufficient trigger symbols are displayed to trigger a bonus, and then a second random event occurs to determine the second characteristics of the trigger symbol, which then determines the characteristics of the bonus matters awarded. In this embodiment when implemented as a spinning reel game, the trigger symbols on the reels are not allocated a colour, with their colour determined randomly when they are spun up.

It may be possible for trigger symbols to occur in the base game in an ‘inactive’ state. For example, the game may require the trigger symbols to occur along a purchased pay line before they trigger the bonus. In this case, only the trigger symbols that occur along a purchased pay line may animate to reveal a colour and the others may remain unallocated to a colour.

The probability of achieving a bonus games with particular characteristics may vary depending on the characteristic. For example, a bonus game with 20 bonus games may occur less often than a bonus game with 10 bonus games. Similarly, bonus games with higher multipliers may occur less often than bonus games with more multipliers. This weighting can be achieved by varying the relative number of red and blue ‘A’ symbols in the base game, or where a two stage random selection process is used, the probability of the random process selecting a red ‘A’ symbol may be higher than the probability of achieving a blue ‘A’ symbol.

The bonus games may also include outcomes associated with trigger symbols, which may be the same as the trigger symbols in the base game, or may be different trigger symbols. Occurrence of these trigger symbols may result in a further modification of the bonus, for example the addition of further bonus games, the application of a multiplier to the total win from the bonus games, or to subsequent wins that occur and individual bonus games in the bonus. Again, the particular variation that is made may depend on characteristics of the trigger symbol. For example, every red ‘A’ symbol may cause 5 additional bonus games to be added to the bonus. Another example may be that when three blue ‘A’ symbols are accumulated, then a multiplier of 2 is applied to all prizes won in the bonus, excluding any progressive prize or non-cash prize then may be won from the bonus.

The probability of occurrence of the trigger symbols in the bonus may be the same as in the base game. The same symbols may then be used in both the bonus and the base games. The probability of certain coloured trigger symbols may be different in the base game and bonus, with the same symbols being used in both games if separate selection processes are completed for the secondary characteristics. Otherwise, different symbols may be used in the bonus from the base game.

The gaming machine 100 may be able to award a special prize. The special prize may be a large prize, in the form of a fixed cash prize, a non-cash prize or a progressive prize. The prize may be individually won for that gaming machine, for example a stand-alone progressive for that gaming machine 100. Alternatively, a group of linked gaming machines may all be eligible to win the same prize, for example a linked progressive prize.

A more specific example will be described in relation to an embodiment in which a progressive prize may be won. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the system may also be used for other prizes.

Referring to FIG. 4, the jackpot controller 205 receives signals from the gaming consoles 114 relating to game play of a game played using that console 114. In response, the jackpot controller 205 increments a progressive jackpot. For example, the signals may relate to the coin-in or turnover on a gaming machine and the progressive jackpot may increment at a rate of 1% of the coin-in or turnover.

Each of the gaming machines associated with the consoles 114 provides a game to a player. For example, the game may be a spinning reel game.

In one embodiment, the progressive prize may be won at a console 114 if during play of a game at that console 3 trigger symbols having the same secondary characteristic are displayed. Again using the example of ‘A’ trigger symbols, a progressive prize may be won if 3 blue ‘A’ symbols occurs. This may be instead of any other bonus, for example the 20 bonus games described previously for 3 blue ‘A’ symbols, or in addition to the 20 bonus games. If 3 blue ‘A’ symbols do not occur, then an alternative prize may be paid, for example a particular number of bonus games and/or a particular multiplier, which may for example be applied to the wager staked in the play of the base game that caused the trigger symbols to occur, to a prize in credits awarded due to the occurrence of a trigger symbols, determined from a pay table of the game, or another value.

In one embodiment, the jackpot server 205 may maintain a plurality of special prizes. Each special prize may be associated with a particular combination of secondary characteristics of trigger symbols. One or more of the special prizes may require the occurrence of both a particular combination of secondary characteristics in the base game and in the bonus before it is won. For example, 3 blue ‘A’ symbols may be required in the base game before the player is eligible to win the special prize in the bonus game, and then the special prize may only be awarded on the occurrence of a particular event, for example occurrence of 3 blue ‘A’ symbols in the bonus. There may be one special prize that operates in this way, or a plurality of prizes, wherein eligibility to each occurs for one or more particular trigger events. Alternatively, all trigger events for the bonus may result in eligibility to win a single special prize.

Those skilled in the relevant arts will therefore appreciate that significant flexibility is provided by the prize awarding mechanism implemented in this game, which allows a wide range of prizes to be won, including low value prizes that may be won relatively often and high value prizes that are won relatively infrequently. This assists the game designer in providing a large variation of prizes, while maintaining a required return to player.

In one embodiment, there may be two or more progressive prizes. The seed value and/or increment rate may differ between the progressive prizes. For example, a first progressive prize may have a seed value of 500 credits and increment at a rate of 1% of turnover and another progressive may have a seed value of 2,000 credits and increment at a rate of 2% of turnover. Accordingly, the rate of contribution to the jackpots is 3% of turnover.

In one embodiment, to be eligible to win the special prizes, the player may have to wager an ante-bet before commencement of the base game. Alternatively, the gaming machine may give the option to wager an ante-bet between the revealing of the trigger symbols and the revealing of the secondary characteristics of the trigger symbols.

In one embodiment, the special prizes may be able to be won on the accumulation of a particular number of special symbols during the bonus. For example, if the player accumulates 5 trigger symbols during the bonus, they may be awarded a first progressive prize and if they achieve six trigger symbols during the bonus, they may be awarded a second higher progressive prize.

While the foregoing description has been provided by way of example of certain embodiments of the present invention as presently contemplated, which utilise gaming machines of the type found in casinos, those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that the present invention also may have application to internet gaming and/or have application to gaming over a telecommunications network, where handsets and/or other handheld devices are used to display game outcomes and receive player inputs.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers having known equivalents, then those equivalents are hereby incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that modifications and additions to the embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Several embodiments are described above with reference to the drawings. These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments that implement the systems and methods and programs of the present invention. However, describing the invention with drawings should not be construed as imposing on the invention any limitations associated with features shown in the drawings. The present invention contemplates methods, systems and program products on any electronic device and/or machine-readable media suitable for accomplishing its operations. As noted above, certain embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using an existing computer processor and/or by a special purpose computer processor incorporated for this or another purpose or by a hardwired system, for example.

As noted above, embodiments within the scope of the present invention include program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such a connection is properly termed a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.

Certain embodiments of the invention are described in the general context of method steps which may be implemented in one embodiment by a program product including machine-executable instructions, such as program code, for example in the form of program modules executed by machines in networked environments. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Machine-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of program code for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps. 

1. A method for use with a gaming machine, the method including: receiving a wager staked on an outcome of a game provided by the gaming machine; maintaining in a memory of the gaming machine a definition of a plurality of possible outcomes of the game, each outcome associated with a plurality of symbols, with different outcomes associated with different sets of symbols, the symbols including at least two trigger symbols that each have a first identifying characteristic in common and a second identifying characteristic that is different, and wherein at least two outcomes that are associated with at least one of the trigger symbols are also associated with a bonus, wherein the bonus includes at least one aspect that varies for different instances or combinations of the trigger symbols for that outcome; in a random process, determining the outcome of the game and displaying on the display the set of symbols associated with that outcome; if the determined outcome is one of the outcomes associated with the bonus, awarding the bonus associated with that outcome.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bonus includes a series of bonus game events, wherein the number of bonus game events awarded depends on the second identifying characteristic of the at least one trigger symbol, or on a combination of the second identifying characteristics of the trigger symbols, associated with the outcome.
 3. The method of claim 2, further including awarding the bonus with a first number of bonus game events when the at least one trigger symbol associated with the determined outcome exhibits a particular second identifying characteristic or a particular combination of second identifying characteristics, and awarding the bonus with a second number of bonus game events, different from the first number of bonus game events, when the trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome exhibit another second identifying characteristic or another particular combination of second identifying characteristics.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the outcomes that are associated with the bonus are each associated with a plurality of trigger symbols and the method includes awarding the bonus with a first number of game events when there are at least a certain number of trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome that exhibit the same second identifying characteristic, and awarding the bonus with a second number of games events when there are less than the certain number of trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome that exhibit the same second identifying characteristic.
 5. The method of claim 1, further including awarding the bonus with a first multiplier applied to prizes won from the bonus when the at least one trigger symbol associated with the determined outcome exhibits a particular second identifying characteristic or a particular combination of second identifying characteristics, and awarding the bonus with a second multiplier applied to prizes won from the bonus, different from the first multiplier, when the trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome exhibit another second identifying characteristic or another particular combination of second identifying characteristics.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the outcomes that are associated with bonus events are each associated with a plurality of trigger symbols and the method includes awarding the bonus with a first multiplier when there are at least a certain number of trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome that exhibit the same second identifying characteristic and awarding the bonus event with a second multiplier when there are less than the certain number of trigger symbols associated with the determined outcome that exhibit the same second identifying characteristic.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the process of displaying on the display, the set of symbols associated with an outcome that is associated with a bonus event, includes a first stage of displaying a set of symbols that includes the at least one trigger symbol with the first identifying characteristic and with an undetermined second identifying characteristic, then in a second stage displaying the second identifying characteristic.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the trigger symbols are displayed to appear to have a three-dimensional properties and displaying the second identifying characteristic involves displaying the trigger symbols as animating and then revealing their respective second identifying characteristics.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the display of the second identifying characteristic is dependent on a random selection process that is separate from the random process that determined the game outcome.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the display of the second identifying characteristic is predetermined in that it is solely dependent on a single random process, namely the random process that determined the game outcome.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein when the trigger symbols are displayed to animate, the gaming machine displays the trigger symbols as ceasing to animate so as to reveal their second identifying characteristic upon receipt of a player input.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the player input is touching of a touch screen by the player in the location of the trigger symbol.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein one outcome of a said bonus game event is an outcome that results in the award of additional bonus game events.
 14. The method of claim 1, further including implementing a plurality of said games across a plurality of said gaming machines, wherein one possible outcome of the bonus is the winning of a common prize winnable from each of the gaming machines.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the common prize is a progressive prize.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein there are a plurality of common prizes, wherein the prize that a player is eligible to win in the bonus events is dependent on the second characteristic(s) of the trigger symbol(s).
 17. The method of claim 14, further including awarding a special prize on the occurrence of a trigger event during the bonus game events.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein, the trigger event is the occurrence of a particular special symbol or combination of special symbols, which may be the same as, or different to, the trigger symbols.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein, the trigger event is the accumulation of a certain number of special symbols during the series of bonus game events.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein two different special prizes are awardable, and which special prize is awarded is dependent on the number of special symbols that occur or are accumulated in the bonus.
 21. A method of providing a game on a gaming machine arranged to select outcomes of the game, award an award if a winning outcome results, and display representations of the game on a display, including displaying combinations of types of symbols to represent winning and losing outcomes, wherein at least one symbol type that is displayed to represent a winning combination of symbols is displayed as having one of two or more different visual attributes, and wherein the award that is awarded differs depending on the visual attributes of the displayed symbol.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the award that is awarded for the winning combination is a series of bonus games and wherein the number of bonus games awarded differs for different attributes of the symbol.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the two or more different visual attributes include different colours.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein a winning combination is represented as a combination of two or more symbols, each of which having any one a plurality of visual attributes, wherein the award that is awarded is dependent on the combination of visual attributes that is displayed.
 25. A method for use with a gaming machine, the method including receiving a wager staked on the outcome of a game provided by the gaming machine; maintaining in memory of the gaming machine a definition of a plurality of possible outcomes of the game, each outcome associated with a plurality of symbols, wherein different outcomes are associated with different sets of symbols, the symbols including at least two trigger symbols that each have a first identifying characteristic in common and a second identifying characteristic that is different, at least two outcomes that are associated with at least one trigger symbol are also associated with special prizes, and wherein different special prizes are associated with different instances or combinations of the second identifying characteristic of the trigger symbols; in a random process, determining the outcome of the game and displaying on the display the set of symbols associated with that outcome; if the determined outcome is one of the outcomes associated with a special prize, awarding the special prize associated with the outcome.
 26. A gaming machine implementing the method according to claim
 1. 27. A gaming system including: a game controller including a random number generator and a credit meter; a user interface in communication with the game controller, the user interface including a game play activator and a display; a memory in communication with or forming a part of the game controller, the memory storing a game image that includes a definition of a plurality of possible outcomes of the game, each outcome associated with a plurality of symbols, wherein different outcomes are associated with different sets of symbols, the symbols include at least two trigger symbols that each have a first identifying characteristic in common and a second identifying characteristic that is different, and at least two outcomes that are associated with different instances or combinations of trigger symbols are associated with different special prizes; wherein the game controller determines the outcome of the game dependent on an output from the random number generator, controls the display to display the set of symbols associated with that outcome, and provides a said special prize if the determined outcome of the game is one of the outcomes associated with a special prize.
 28. The gaming system of claim 27 including a plurality of user interfaces, wherein if a special prize is provided, then the special prize may be winnable from any one of the plurality of user interfaces.
 29. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the special prizes is a progressive prize.
 30. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein, the progressive prizes have different seed values and/or increment rates.
 31. A gaming machine including a display and a game controller in communication with the display, the game controller selecting outcomes of the game, causing the award of an award if a winning outcome results, and controls the display to display representations of the game, wherein the representations include the display of combinations of types of symbols to represent winning and losing outcomes, wherein at least symbol type that is displayed to represent a winning combination of symbols is displayed as having one of two or more different visual attributes, and wherein the award that the game controller causes to be awarded differs depending on the visual attributes of the displayed symbol.
 32. The gaming machine of claim 31, wherein the award that is awarded for the winning combination is a series of bonus games and wherein the number of bonus games awarded differs for different attributes of the symbol. In one embodiment, the two or more different visual attributes include different colours.
 33. The gaming machine of claim 31, wherein a winning combination is represented as a combination of two or more symbols, each of which having any one a plurality of visual attributes, wherein the award that is awarded is dependent on the combination of visual attributes that is displayed.
 34. A machine accessible medium including a set of instructions for execution by a game controller to implement the method as described in the claim
 1. 35. A machine accessible medium including a set of instructions for execution by a game controller to implement the method as described in the claim
 21. 36. A machine accessible medium including a set of instructions for execution by a game controller to implement the method as described in the claim
 25. 